Chapter 165 – Auto-hunting

Afterward, I had a brief Q&A session with the dimensional natives.

They introduced themselves as Binars. While listening to explanations about the culture and history of these beaver-like creatures, I found myself admiring the tools crafted from their teeth.

‘I guess there’s a reason it’s a different dimension…’

I could clearly feel that they were progressing in a direction different from Earth’s development. However, on the other hand, I hadn’t come here for sightseeing.

My primary objective was securing real estate.

As a secondary goal, I also wanted to secure a Prophet.

“Unfortunately, that is impossible.”

But as I expected, it seemed that would be difficult.

From what I heard, the prophetic ability passed down through blood was not treated as a mere power, but was regarded as a kind of Revelation received from God. In other words, they were perceived as indispensable beings within Binar society.

“So they’re like the Pope of the Catholic Church, then,” Seongjae remarked.

It was exactly as Seongjae said.

And that was in a devoutly Catholic-like society.

Fortunately, however, it seemed that saving their lives hadn’t been in vain. They were generous toward my other conditions, excluding the Prophet.

“The land? Yes, that is fine.”

Since they primarily lived in the rivers and built dams, they added that it didn’t matter what I did in the inland regions.

‘I came to the right place.’

For me, it was a satisfying answer.

If they had possessed the feudalistic mindset of medieval Europe, they would have certainly been uncomfortable with the proposal to transfer some land.

Furthermore, they might have even demanded a feudal contract as a condition for receiving the land, not knowing their place.

In contrast, these people had no hesitation about handing over the land to me. In fact, they seemed happy that someone would take charge of the inland regions—far from the rivers where they lived—because managing the monster population there was difficult.

In short, this dimension offered the best possible conditions for me.

However, there was one thing that weighed on my mind.

“So… what does it mean that ‘more terrible things’ are coming?”

That, of course, was her prophecy.

* * *

Meanwhile, Jagaros and Reugon—two Gatekeepers who had come up with the unprecedented idea of ‘cooperation’ against a common enemy—were keeping a close eye on the location of the Key.

This was possible because the Keys pulled toward one another, allowing them to track the owners’ positions.

• It seems they have headed toward a frontier dimension.

• Is it a place you know?

• I’ve kept an eye on it once before. The mana concentration in the atmosphere wasn’t bad, but the civilization was ‘unripe,’ so I gave up on the invasion. However, I did hear recently that one of the younger ones has been invading it.

The expression ‘unripe’ was a metaphor used by Dimensional Predators. Since they absorb the Vital Energy that becomes more concentrated in a dimension as civilization develops, they describe the civilizations of other lifeforms as if fruit were ripening.

At the same time, they tried to grasp the movements of the Magitech Legion.

• But why target such a frontier dimension?

As far as the Dimensional Predators had judged, the Magitech Legion’s goal was this: to eliminate the invaders who had attacked their own dimension and, furthermore, to drive other Dimensional Predators who posed the same threat to extinction.

Specifically, the Gatekeepers.

It was a prediction not far from the truth.

But that was why they had doubts. Then why on earth head to a frontier dimension? After pondering for a long time, the two Gatekeepers finally came up with an answer.

• Could it be that they need supplies?

• Supplies? Ah, right, the lower races used to do things like that.

To Dimensional Predators, the concept of supplies was faint. To begin with, they lived on Vital Energy, so they had no need for supplies.

Moreover, the monsters and mutants that made up the majority of their legions usually obtained everything through local procurement.

Despite this, by fighting numerous races, there were things they learned vaguely about their opponents. This was especially true as they mutantified them and brought them into their own forces.

And one of the things they learned in that way was logistics.

The core of an army is supply.

Most armies, other than monsters, required a steady supply of food, as well as items like armor and weapons.

But of course… what those who didn’t need supplies learned was not how to supply. It was closer to the opposite.

For example, that a unit with cut-off supplies becomes weakened. Or, a methodology on how to disrupt supplies to weaken the enemy in such a manner.

Therefore…

• Then it would be best to strike right now.

• I shall prepare the forces immediately.

It was perhaps a natural sequence of events that the two Gatekeepers began to hastily prepare for battle.

* * *

Meanwhile, after hearing the prophecy of the Binar Saintess, I became certain.

“What? So that means there’s no core…?”

Gatekeeper-class beings do not come here personally.

At most, it seemed they only sent the Dimensional Predators under their command. In other words, I didn’t need to be physically present.

Therefore, I made this decision.

‘I can just leave some troops stationed here.’

According to the information she explained, it seemed there was no need to even call my subordinate units, such as the Volunteer Knights or the 1st Brigade (Former Western US Alliance).

Since my goal was the Gatekeepers and what I wanted from this dimension was mana (through real estate), there was no need to overdo it.

‘Especially in a defense battle.’

I grinned.

* * *

Meanwhile, the two Gatekeepers preparing their forces…

Each fell into the same single dilemma.

‘But… what happens if I exhaust all my forces?’

Currently, the power of the two Gatekeeper factions was similar.

This was also the reason they decided to cooperate. To Dimensional Predators, power equaled respect.

But that was only for now. If that balance were to break during battle, what would happen to the weakened Gatekeeper?

‘I might be absorbed.’

A Gatekeeper-class being possessed a significant amount of Vital Energy. It was at a level incomparable to other Dimensional Predators.

If such a Gatekeeper lost all their forces and was even wounded, it would certainly be a massive opportunity for a Dimensional Predator, who lacked sociality toward their own kind.

It was perhaps close to fratricide, but the two Gatekeepers knew that if it were them, they would seize that opportunity without hesitation. Furthermore, they guessed the other would do the same.

‘In other words… the balance must not collapse.’

Thus, maintaining the balance of forces was the top priority.

• How many troops are you sending?

• I shall send only as many as you do.

And their ways of thinking fit together far too well. This became the reason they leaked their forces in small trickles toward an opponent they might have defeated by pouring everything into one blow.

* * *

While the Dimensional Predators were preparing their forces, the Binar Saintess, having grasped the movements of the fleet, was worried sick.

“Does that mean… you are re… retreating?”

“No, not retreating…”

The Saintess asked several times, but the answer remained the same. Eventually, it was so obvious that the other party was getting annoyed—despite being different species—that she gave up.

‘But… to leave so soon…’

She couldn’t believe the situation.

The appearance of the majestic fleet and the sweeping away of the monsters had been brief. At that time, the Binars, including the Saintess, had spared no praise for the fleet.

Calling them the saviors of the world.

But now, everyone was confused.

“So… the savior is leaving?”

“Just leaving us behind?”

“When the monsters will soon invade again?”

Some Binars even began to claim that the Saintess’s prophecy was wrong.

“The prophecy was incorrect!”

“The monster invasion itself was God’s Revelation. The Saintess was wrong!”

In particular, the power of the faction backed by the Archbishop, who held a position akin to the Saintess’s right hand and was in charge of various administrations, was fierce.

‘Now is not the time to be divided…’

The Saintess felt frustrated.

Especially since she had heard incomprehensible, bizarre things from the messenger of those saviors.

‘That one is a monster wearing a Binar’s skin. Kill him before it’s too late.’

The one he pointed to was the Archbishop.

From Siwoo’s perspective, he had quickly identified the Binar mutant, but since he couldn’t remove him directly due to political issues, he had tipped off the Saintess… but to the Saintess, who didn’t even know of the existence of mutants, it could only be an incomprehensible statement.

While she was in such confusion, with the words that it would be fine since enough troops had been left on the ground…

Flash!

Before she knew it, the fleet had vanished. The Saintess had to endure the resentful and accusing glares of the Binars.

Of course… that was only until the monsters actually reinvaded.

* * *

The second invasion proceeded differently.

“Look… the sky is strange.”

A red rift began to open in a corner of the sky. Since the Dimensional Predators had to cross over this time, the rift was hastily stabilized.

• I come by the order of Lord Jagaros!

• Lord Reugon commands that all be slaughtered!

The telepathic shouts of the invading Dimensional Predators echoed.

The Binars began to panic visibly.

“W-what is this sound!”

“Aaaagh! A demon! A demon has come!”

Actually, this was normal.

To them, who had lived relatively primitive lives like many other races, telepathy was a completely foreign concept. Thus, they were bound to be far more shocked than humans would have been.

Meanwhile, normally Dimensional Predators would cross alone, but this time they were accompanied by mutants and monsters who had lost their bodies once and reconstructed them.

“Kweeeeeek!”

The monsters, letting out shrieks, began to encroach upon the surroundings along with strong environmental erosion. However… that was all.

All they could do was the ‘beginning.’

Swoooosh—

The artillery barrages of the Engineer Cannons began to fall, cutting through the wind.

Boom! Kaboom! Crash!

The barrages were as if they knew exactly where the rift would open. They were devasting the area around the red dimensional rift. This, of course, was the result of utilizing the Saintess’s prophetic ability several times a day.

Thus, the monsters and mutants who entered the dimension by the orders of the two Gatekeepers were incinerated in an instant. The Binar warriors watching this from nearby could not believe their own eyes.

“Eh, huh?”

“They’re all dead! They’re already all dead!”

“They didn’t even get close!”

And soon, they began to cheer.

“Savior! Savior!”

“Ah! Praise him! Worship him!”

It was almost at the level of deification. However, unfortunately, the Engineer Cannon’s barrage could not pierce through the Dimensional Predators’ arrogance.

The role of doing so was taken by a newly combined machine.

Zzzzzing—

This machine, a combination of the Magitech Artillery Unit and a Photon Destroyer—.

K-BOOM!

As long as enough of them were gathered, it could pour out enough firepower to eliminate a small number of Dimensional Predators.

• G-Gahhh!?

• Lord Reugon, did you perhaps send me to my death!

It wasn’t long before the screams of the Dimensional Predators rang out.

* * *

At the same time.

I had been staring at the food on my dining table for a long while.

‘I wonder if this actually tastes good…’

What I was looking at was none other than Tteokbokki Curry Pasta. It was a fusion dish said to be trending in the markets these days.

It was then that a notification arrived saying Vital Energy had entered. Only then did I lift my head and watch the screen of the Observation Ship I had left behind.

From the corpses of monsters and mutants covering the ground to those of the Dimensional Predators. They were enemy forces that had once nearly brought about the apocalypse of Earth, but…

“Oh! Looks like the battle’s over.”

Now, it was practically like auto-hunting.

“I should tell them to increase the mana facilities more now.”

…And the same went for the expansion.